2,000 Florida employees join Supermarket /Nursing Home union

United Food and Commercial Workers continue expansion

Published On: Jan 08 2013 11:50:55 AM EST

ORLANDO,Fla. -

Approximately 2,000 supermarket and nursing home workers, including members in the Florida Panhandle region from UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers Union) Local 1657, have become members of the RWDSU Mid-South Council.

A news release issued Tuesday by UFCW Local 1657, announced the merger “into the RWDSU,” saying the merger was completed earlier this month.

UFCW Local 1657 members work at Bell Foods, Colonial Haven Healthcare and Rehab Center, Golden Living, Sea Breeze Healthcare Center, M&M Marketplace, United Roofing Manufacturing and other employees throughout the mid south.

“This opens the door for many new opportunities, including the potential to organize retail workers in the South and continue to grow, as we are currently one of the largest unions in the mid-south area,” said John Whitaker, President of RWDSU Mid-South Council.

According to the statement, the Mid-South Council “has already begun to work with the newly merged members by meeting with members, welcoming the workers to the RWDSU family, and settling disputes in the workplace on behalf of workers.”

Last year, more than 1,200 workers at the Pilgrim’s Pride poultry plant in Russellville, Ala., voted overwhelmingly to join the RWDSU Mid-South Council.

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